He walked around the counter while she pulled out a small sack. A glance out the window reassured Eva that no other customers had arrived, and they still had a moment or two to themselves.
“I meant what I said the other night ’bout writing, Eva,” Jed said as she handed him the truffles.
“It’ll be real nice to hear from ya.”
“That you will.” He picked up his wallet and a small picture fell out, landing facedown on the counter.
She leaned forward to retrieve it, but just as quickly, Jed reached for it. The photo slipped from his grasp and fluttered away. “Nee!” he muttered, trying to seize it.
His obvious nervousness startled her.
“I’ve got it,” he said, finally getting a grasp on it, but not before she’d caught a glimpse.
Her heart stopped, then sank. What on earth?
“Jed . . . who is that?” Eva asked, though she was certain she knew.
He reddened. “I found this photo on the train,” he said, looking at the picture before reluctantly offering it to her.
Tears sprang to Eva’s eyes as she gazed upon the face of the last person she would have expected to see. Lily. “It’s my dear missing sister.”
After a moment, she raised her gaze to his own befuddled expression.
“Did you take this picture?” she asked at last.
“Of course not,” he stammered. “Like I said . . . I found it on the train.” He frowned. “But wait . . . did you say Lily?”
“Jah, this is a photo of my sister.” She stared at him, still wondering why this photo was in his possession but now equally perplexed by his present confusion.
He must not have known it was Lily. . . .
And then it came to her: Jed had thought she was the girl in the picture.
“Go ahead and keep it,” Jed said, attempting a smile.
“Lily and I do look quite a bit alike,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Or at least people say we do.”
Jed removed his straw hat and stared down at it. “I don’t know what to say. . . . I honestly thought . . .”
That I was the girl, Eva thought again, stunned. “I don’t know anything ’bout this photo or where it was taken. What could have prompted Lily to do this?” She slid it into one of the cubbyholes beneath her cash register, wishing it might vanish just as her sister had.
It was evident now why Jed had looked so inquisitively at her when they’d first met at the auction. Like he’d seen me before.
The awkwardness was strewn before them like broken glass, and every bit as painful to step on. Was he looking to meet Lily? she wondered. Is that why we met?
“I hope I haven’t offended you, Eva.” Jed stepped toward her, then, as if out of bounds, he inched back.
Her head was spinning.
“Listen, I don’t care about the photograph,” he began again before hesitating, but the way he said it wasn’t very convincing.
I feel like crying. How on earth had everything gone so wrong so suddenly?
“Eva . . . I thought about telling you, but then I wasn’t sure what you’d think.”
They heard the sound of the doorknob turning and the door whisking open. Eva spotted Bishop Isaac smiling at them beneath his formidable-looking black hat. Except for his long-sleeved white shirt, he was dressed all in black.
“I’d best be goin’,” Jed said abruptly. “You have another customer.”
“Ain’t necessary to go,” she heard herself say. But it was apparently pointless for him to remain to pursue the young woman he’d assumed Eva to be. She managed to nod her head. “Jah, maybe ’tis best.” She sighed. “So long, Jed.”
He turned slowly and then glanced back at her, as if still trying to reconcile her face with the photograph. He reached for the door as the bishop stepped up to the counter. Once again, Jed looked back at her and nodded politely.
The worst timing! she thought.
“Willkumm, Bishop,” she said. “What sweets might ya be interested in?”
Her heart sank anew as through the window she saw Jed hurrying to his buggy.
“Nothing today.” The bishop kept on his black felt hat. “But I’d like you to follow me into the main house, where Frona’s waiting.”
What else can go wrong?
“Let me just hang up my Closed sign,” she said, thankful now that she and Jed hadn’t set out for a walk. But then Lily’s forbidden photo might still be safely tucked away in Jed’s wallet.
All this time, Jed thought I was the girl in the photograph.
Chapter Twenty-two
EVA SAT RESPECTFULLY AT THE TABLE while Frona informed the bishop that Menno had stopped by earlier. It was surprising to hear that Menno had contacted their cousin Jeptha King in Apple Creek, Ohio. “Jeptha’s agreed to nose around some of the surrounding towns . . . see what he can find out about Lily,” Frona said with a glance at Eva.
After what had just transpired in the candy shop, it was hard to keep her mind on what the bishop was saying in response. Eva was still so baffled Lily had dared to have a picture made of herself . . . and that Jed had found it on the very train he’d taken here. The whole thing was mind-boggling.
“Menno’s a conscientious farmer,” Bishop Isaac was telling Frona. “I understand why he can’t just up and leave, ’specially with cultivating filling his hours.”
“I’m doin’ my part to help,” Frona chimed in, explaining she’d written to some Ohio relatives. “It shouldn’t take long to find out something, I wouldn’t think.”
“But what will happen if Lily refuses to come home?” Eva asked softly.
Bishop Isaac folded his big, callused hands on the table where their father had always sat. “Gott has a sovereign plan for your sister, and I believe it’s right here with the People. No doubt in my mind.”
Eva hoped with all of her heart he was right. After all, he was the man chosen by God to shepherd the flock here.
“In the long run, though, it’ll be up to Lily to surrender her prideful independence,” Bishop Isaac said.
All the same, Eva fought against the idea of someone forcing Lily to return against her will. If she’s even still single, she thought. That was the only way it could possibly work, because if Lily had already eloped . . . Oh, she didn’t want to think about that. They must find her, and soon!
“We’ll put our complete trust in our heavenly Father.” The bishop rose and made his way toward the door. “I’ll leave you sisters to your work now.”
“Denki for comin’, bishop,” Frona said right quick.
But Eva said nothing.
Jed tortured himself on the ride to Quarryville, where he was scheduled to meet the van driver for the trip home. “How could I have made such a fool of myself?” He could not escape the memory of Eva’s utter disappointment. And the way she’d wanted him to stay, then changed her mind and agreed he should take his leave. What a time for the bishop to appear. . . .
Lily certainly resembled Eva. But now Jed’s disappointment was less over the girl in the photo than the realization that Eva wasn’t the author of the notes in the book’s margins. To think he didn’t know her as well as he’d imagined! That was the most disappointing fact of all.
“Just when I was beginning to think God had brought us together in the most unlikely way,” he muttered miserably.
Eva waited until the bishop backed out of the driveway before she dashed over to the candy shop. There, she found Lily’s picture and brought it into the kitchen to show Frona, who was busy slicing the fresh bread.
“Where do ya think Lily had this taken?” She pushed it in front of Frona, who leaned forward for a better look.
“Where’d ya get this?” she demanded.
Eva hesitated, unwilling to say. “I just came across it . . . and want to know what you think.”
“I think you’d better burn it, that’s what.”
Eva nodded and studied it again. “Ach, I wonder if Fannie has an opinion ’bout it. She seems to kn
ow more than I would’ve guessed ’bout our sister.”
“True. You could ask her.” Frona glanced out the window. “Right now, though, it looks like you’re getting a customer.”
Eva could see the carriage pulling in. “Come to think of it, maybe this photo might help Cousin Jeptha locate Lily.”
“Well now, ain’t that a thought?”
“It would help a lot if they could narrow things down—Ohio’s an awful big state,” Eva said, picking up the photograph. “Cousin Jeptha can’t just run around all over, ya know.”
“Nee, that’s for certain.” Frona bobbed her head toward the shop. “Hurry up, now.”
“I’m goin’,” Eva exclaimed, leaving Lily’s photo there on the counter.
Jed loaded his tools into the back of the van to make room for five other paying passengers. The driver, Arnie Strout, informed him it wasn’t necessary to skimp on space since none of the other passengers had much luggage.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Jed was plagued by Eva’s disillusionment. What a mess, he thought. It was ridiculous of me to carry that photo around in the first place!
And he had made a terrible mistake in assuming Eva was the girl in the picture. I should have known she wouldn’t do such a thing.
Jed recalled everything Eva had said about her younger sister. She had been pretty tight-lipped, perhaps to protect Lily. He didn’t know and wasn’t sure he was supposed to know.
Now he felt convinced that finding the book on the train had been purely coincidental. Anyone could’ve picked it up. . . .
“Was there a crowd at the auction?” Arnie asked, interrupting Jed’s thoughts.
“It was well attended.”
“I wonder if the sellers will spend winters in Florida like other Amish retirees are starting to do.”
“Is that so?” Jed hadn’t heard this.
“Oh yes, and Pinecraft’s the place for Plain snowbirds. At least that’s what I’m told.”
“I don’t know of any Amish who go there.” Jed was truly interested. “Is it a set-apart community?”
“I guess it’s somewhat isolated from the more modern surrounding neighborhoods. Some of the cottages have electricity, though, but since these are mostly rentals and most folks are only there for a few months out of the year, the bishops are looking the other way.” Arnie added, “Once a person experiences the warmer temperatures, it’s doubly hard to endure another Pennsylvania winter.”
The conversation lulled, and Jed found himself contemplating the way he’d left things with Orpha Byler. Had she finally accepted the fact that Jed was only interested in a casual friendship and nothing more? Indeed, yesterday he’d almost thought Orpha and her family might come again for dessert after supper, but he was relieved when the meal rolled around and it was just him and his hosts seated at the table.
He hoped his uncle wouldn’t be frustrated to learn that things had gone nowhere with Jonas’s granddaughters. Jed simply hadn’t been able to think of anyone but Eva once he’d encountered her at the auction.
And now I’ve ruined that.
Chapter Twenty-three
JED’S YOUNGEST SISTER met him in the kitchen that night, sporting a big smile.
“I want you to hear this from me first,” Bettina said, eyes dancing as she told him of her wedding plans come November.
He knew she was hoping for his brotherly blessing. “I’d be happier if you were a little older. What’s the big hurry, sis?”
“Aw, Jed . . .”
“Well now, think about it. You’ve only been goin’ to Singings a year.”
“Levi and I love each other,” she said, wringing her hands. “Why should we wait?”
She was far from ready to be a wife, young as she was. “Have ya thought of talkin’ to Dat and Mamm?”
She ignored his question. “I forgot to tell you—Levi wants you to be one of his side sitters at our wedding.”
“Shouldn’t he be askin’? That’s traditionally the way it’s done.”
“Oh, Jed, I’m just so thrilled! I can hardly think straight.”
Thinking straight should come first. . . .
“Remember, Lord willing, you’ll be married to Levi for a long time—might be sixty years or more,” he offered kindly. “Besides, isn’t Levi the only fella you’ve ever gone with?”
She nodded. “And he’s the one for me, so there’s no point in arguing that.” Bettina sighed. “Ach, you’re too tired to be happy for me, I daresay.”
He was tired. Evidently undaunted, Bettina left the kitchen to go upstairs.
Jed recalled Eva’s interest in Bettina’s possible news, but he pushed the thought away. What did it matter now?
He headed back to his bedroom, adjacent to the front room, and noticed Lily’s book lying on the dresser. There hadn’t been time to give it another look during the trip from Lancaster County, what with all the conversation in the van. Jed had wanted to be considerate of his driver and fellow passengers.
I could mail it to Lily, he thought. If I knew where she was.
He heard voices drifting down the stairs now and assumed Bettina had taken his suggestion to heart, although Jed supposed their parents might have guessed something was up. The way she’s prancing about like a young filly.
Their father might also caution about Bettina’s young age, although Daed had married Mamm the year they each turned eighteen.
Flipping through the book’s pages, Jed zeroed in on a note: Love gladly sacrifices itself for the beloved.
He closed the book, still aware of the muffled conversation. Bettina’s arguing for her own beloved, he thought as he leaned back onto the bed, his hands behind his head.
I have no right to discourage her.
The next morning, Jed rose an hour before the alarm clock went off, anxious to turn up at work before Uncle Ervin arrived. Considering the raucous birds outside his window, he’d needed no further incentive.
O Lord, pave the way for me today with Uncle Ervin, he prayed, on edge about whether his absence might have proved a boon to Perry.
Bettina met him in the kitchen, looking like she hadn’t slept much. “Well, I did your bidding,” she said conspiratorially.
He nodded. “How’d it go?”
“Not the way I expected. And Mamma’s not feelin’ so well this morning because of it.” She groaned and went to the fridge and reached for some orange juice and milk. “I hate causin’ her worry,” she said as she opened the cupboard and brought over two choices of cold cereal.
Jed picked up the cereal box. “This is all I get?” He rose to get a clean bowl from the shelf and returned to help himself to a large amount of Wheaties without saying more. He was dismayed by his sister’s apparent mind-set. It wasn’t his doing she’d gotten herself engaged too young.
“Mamma was cryin’ by the end of our talk,” Bettina volunteered.
He kept his mouth shut, except to eat, believing anything he might say could make things worse.
“So now you’re not talkin’ to me?” Bettina poured orange juice into a tall glass and set it down in front of him.
He thanked her with a nod, but she ignored him and left with a sad face.
A dramatic start to the day, Jed thought.
Ervin Stutzman wasn’t the easiest boss to please, despite the fact that Jed was related to him. He was known to expect perfection, or close to it, and he wanted his employees to work long hours when necessary. Now that he’d had two apprentices for some time, Uncle Ervin’s exceedingly high standards were even higher than before, although here lately he was nearly too frail to bark orders.
These thoughts were running through Jed’s mind as he walked up the familiar lane to the shop and pushed the door open.
Surprisingly, there sat Ervin, smoking his pipe, surrounded by stacked plywood for seats and the main box of the buggy, as well as lumber for the canopy frames. He sputtered when he spotted Jed. “Didn’t expect ya this early.”
“Mornin’, Onkel.
Just thought I’d get a head start since I’ve been gone.”
His uncle gave him a nod and returned to puffing away. “Willkumm back.”
Jed proceeded to tell him about Jonas Byler’s carriage shop—the equipment, the setup, and the various techniques he’d learned there. “Found it takes Jonas and his employees about a hundred and fifty hours to make a buggy, same as here.”
Ervin smiled and slowly nodded his head. “It’s never right to cut corners, niemols.”
“Jonas has quite the big operation,” Jed said, catching his uncle up on all that he’d seen and heard.
“And how was your visit with Lovina and Orpha Byler?” Ervin asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.
Jed might have guessed this would be next. “The Byler sisters were pleasant enough,” he replied. But that’s where it stops. His uncle didn’t need to know the rest of the story.
Uncle Ervin got up and leaned heavily on his cane. “They were pleasant, ya say? Just pleasant?”
Jed smiled. “Orpha seems like a real schmaert and helpful young woman, too,” he added.
“Helpful is gut, but ya don’t sound like a would-be beau. She chust ain’t for you?”
“’Fraid not.”
Quickly, Jed changed the subject. “I’m wondering if Perry finished makin’ the seat for the surrey he’s been building.”
“Jah, and one of the curtained doors and the hinged door in back, too. Perry’s a fine welder and painter and mechanic, but he needs to work on his upholstering and painting. Ain’t nearly as sarchsam—painstaking—as you in all areas of work.”
Rare affirmation.
Jed set to measuring the vinyl-covered black cloth for the new buggy tops, sides, and back and decided the day was turning out better than it started.
Chapter Twenty-four
EVA HEARD ONE OF ABNER MAST’S HEIFERS bellowing across the road as she emptied the trash early Tuesday afternoon. Frona was finishing up the ironing, and Eva had felt restless, going from room to room to gather up the wastepaper baskets. She felt she needed to get away from her sister, who had nothing good to say today. She’s out of sorts, stewing over Lily.
The Photograph Page 14